So often when it comes to flash mobs, the goal and-or end result is a negative one. But in the case of the Facebook-fueled crowd that gathered last fall at the Monroy family auto parts store while dad strategically whisked Caine away to a nearby Shakey’s, it was the opposite:

After getting permission from Caine’s father, [LA filmmaker Nirvan] Mullick started shooting the film about Caine’s Arcade and offered to generate community interest in the imaginative cardboard creations… Mullick used Facebook to create an event page designed to bring a flash mob to Caine’s Arcade on October 2, 2011. The event was also posted on Hidden LA, a Facebook page that highlights lesser known events within Los Angeles and has over 200,000 fans. After Hidden LA drew attention to Caine’s Arcade, the post attracted the local NBC News affiliate as well as the Reddit community.

There’s more rich detail to be found in Flacy’s piece. Meanwhile, the 11-minute short film made by Mullick is closing in on 400,000 YouTube views:

Although the attention Caine’s Arcade has garnered looks to have currently crashed the official website, a Paypal college scholarship fund for the boy keeps growing. At last count, it was over $50,000.